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Unravelling structure sensitivity in CO2 hydrogenation over nickel

Nature Catalysis volume 1, pages 127–134 (2018)Cite this article

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A Publisher Correction to this article was published on 05 February 2018

This article has been updated

Abstract

Continuous efforts in the field of materials science have allowed us to generate smaller and smaller metal nanoparticles, creating new opportunities to understand catalytic properties that depend on the metal particle size. Structure sensitivity is the phenomenon where not all surface atoms in a supported metal catalyst have the same activity. Understanding structure sensitivity can assist in the rational design of catalysts, allowing control over mechanisms, activity and selectivity, and thus even the viability of a catalytic reaction. Here, using a unique set of well-defined silica-supported Ni nanoclusters (1–7 nm) and advanced characterization methods, we prove how structure sensitivity influences the mechanism of catalytic CO2 reduction, the nature of which has been long debated. These findings bring fundamental new understanding of CO2 hydrogenation over Ni and allow us to control both activity and selectivity, which can be a means for CO2 emission abatement through its valorization as a low- or even negative-cost feedstock on a low-cost transition-metal catalyst.

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Fig. 1: Mechanisms of catalytic CO2 hydrogenation.
Fig. 2: Particle size–activity relationships.
Fig. 3: Combined operando FT-IR and catalyst activity measurements.
Fig. 4: Q-XAS of five Ni/SiO2 catalysts with different mean Ni particle sizes.

Change history

  • 05 February 2018

    In the version of this Article originally published online, in Fig. 2b, the y axis unit incorrectly included superscript –1 on Ni; it should have been just Ni. In the PDF only, in Fig. 2d–f, the label ‘Particle size (nm)’ was missing from the x axes. All of these corrections have now been made.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank NWO and BASF for a TA-CHIPP grant. B.M.W. also thanks NWO for a Gravitation programme (Netherlands Center for Multiscale Catalytic Energy Conversion (MCEC)). Furthermore, S. Parker and J. Palle (Utrecht University, UU) are acknowledged for their contributions in measuring FT-IR spectra and activity data. F. Soulimani (UU) and P. de Peinder (UU) are acknowledged for discussions regarding FT-IR data. J. Geus (UU) is also acknowledged for fruitful discussions. A. van der Eerden, M. Filez and H. Schaink, all from UU, are acknowledged for (technical) support in measuring XAS. O. Sofanova (PSI) is thanked for reading the manuscript carefully prior to submission.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis Group, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Charlotte Vogt, Florian Meirer & Bert M. Weckhuysen

  2. BASF Nederland B.V., De Meern, The Netherlands

    Esther Groeneveld, Gerda Kamsma & Peter H. Berben

  3. Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI), Villigen PSI, Switzerland

    Maarten Nachtegaal

  4. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, USA

    Li Lu & Christopher J. Kiely

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  1. Charlotte Vogt
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Contributions

E.G. made the set of catalyst samples. C.V., F.M. and B.M.W. conceived and designed the operando experiments. C.V. performed the operando spectroscopic experiments. FT-IR data analysis was performed by C.V. with input from B.M.W., while quick XAS data analysis was performed by F.M. and C.V. L.L. and C.J.K performed and interpreted HAADF–STEM measurements; G.K., E.G. and P.H.B. performed and interpreted H2 chemisorption measurements and prepared reference XAS samples. M.N. aided in the set-up, and provided support with the operando quick XAS measurements. C.V., F.M. and B.M.W. wrote the paper. All authors discussed the results and commented on the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Bert M. Weckhuysen.

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A correction to this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1038/s41929-018-0036-2.

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Supplementary Information, Supplementary Figures 1–29, Supplementary Tables 1–4, Supplementary References

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Vogt, C., Groeneveld, E., Kamsma, G. et al. Unravelling structure sensitivity in CO2 hydrogenation over nickel. Nat Catal 1, 127–134 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41929-017-0016-y

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